Begonia plant named ‘Bbdra’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbdra’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; numerous double flowers that are light red in color and held above the foliage; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bbdra’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbdra’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new freely branching Begonia cultivarswith numerous fully double flowers.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorduring the summer of 2001 of a proprietary selection of Begonia tuberosaidentified as code number 7-653, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified ascode number 78.65, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newBegonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inRijsenhout, The Netherlands during the spring of 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Bbdra has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bbdra’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bbdra’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBegonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Numerous double flowers that are light red in color and held        above the foliage.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in flower form as plants of the parent selections have singleflowers. In addition, plants of the new Begonia are more freelyflowering than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivarBbbon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,587. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the newBegonia differed from plants of the cultivar Bbbon in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Bbbon differed in        stem color.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia were darker in color        than flowers of plants of the cultivar Bbbon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bbdra’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photograph and following observations and measurementswere grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 13-cm containers and undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring andsummer. During the production of the plants, day and night temperaturesranged from 15° C. to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000 lux.Plants used for the photograph and the description were about threemonths from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbdra.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia            tuberosa identified as code number 7-653, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia            socotrana identified as code number 78.65, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of            about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to five            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; plants of the new Begonia            have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit,            inverted triangle; freely branching with good stem and stem            base strength. Flowers are double and abundant. Moderate            growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Basal branch description.—Quantity: Freely basal branching            with about five to six basal branches developing per plant.            Length: About 9 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 3 cm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 138B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:            About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:            Palmately lobed. Apex: Broadly acute to obtuse. Base:            Cordate to oblique. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Venation pattern:            Palmate. Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: 131A; venation, 131C. Developing and fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: 139A; venation, 131C. Petiole length:            About 4 cm to 6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole            color, upper and lower surfaces: 131C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals            arranged in axillary cymes. Usually five to six flowers per            cyme. Many cymes in flower simultaneously. Flowers            positioned upright and outwardly above the foliage. Flowers            not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously            year round in the greenhouse, however plants flower earlier            and more abundantly during the summer in The Netherlands.            Good postproduction longevity, flowers last about one month            on the plant. Flowers persistent.        -   Cyme height.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Cyme diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; rose-like. Diameter: About 4 cm to            5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 cm. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually            about 10 to 15 per flower. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm.            Width: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex:            Rounded, obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: 52A. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: 52A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape:            Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144B overlain with close to 183A.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to about 30° to 45° from vertical.            Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from the peduncle. Length:            About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Bbdra’ as illustrated anddescribed.